Mucking machine



April 22, 1941. A. R. BIEDESS 2,239,076

MUCKING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z6 5/ Q a 26 Ami 22, 194-1.

A. R. BIEDESS MUCKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 MUCKIN G DIACHINE Anthony It. Biedess, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1938, Serial No. 247,354

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mucking machines adapted for use in shoveling muck or rock in tunnels and mines.

'Heretofore, one of the disadvantages of mucking machines of the type disclosed by the Mosier Patent No. 1,514,008, which have been extensively used for shoveling muck or rock in tun- I-nels or mines, is that the conveyor belt is disposed a substantial distance beneath the 'scoop and travels upwardly along a solid bottom of the conveyor frame so that heavy pieces of rock frequently weighing more than two tons each, dropping directly from the scoop down the chute formed by the boom onto the conveyor belt, cause great damage to the belt and decrease the life thereof to such an extent that belt roplacement is the'chief factor to consider in the upkeep 'of the machine.

The principal object of my invention is to remedy this difficulty in a simple, novel and efficient manner by providing a resilient shock ab- :sorbing means at the point of discharge from the scoop to the belt, for supporting the belt at the receiving end of the conveyor, which will yield -upon loading of the belt, as in cases where heavy pieces of rock are dropped thereon, and thus lessen the liability of damage to the belt.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying I drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the front part of a mucking machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the mucking machine at the receiving end of the conveyor, with certain parts shown in longitudinal section in order to more clearly illustrate the details of my invention;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the conveyor at the receiving end thereof and drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure '2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view drawn to a slightly larger scale than Figure 3 and illustrattrating certain details of my invention not shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure illustrating a modified form in which my invention may be embodied, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in longitudinal section; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the conveyor shown in Figure 5, at the receiving end thereof, and drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure 5.

In the drawings, the form of machine illustrated, having my invention embodied therein, is constructed along lines somewhat similar to those shown in the aforementioned Mosier Patent No. 1,514,008, so will only herein be described in so far as is necessary to make my present invention clearly understandable. Said machine includes a truck or main frame it mounted on track wheels H, H. A scoop i2, transversely pivoted on the forward end of a boom i3, is disposed in advance of said main frame. Said boom is herein shown as being of a channeled construction so it may form a chute for guiding material discharged from said scoop onto the receiving end of an inclined elevating conveyor I'd. Ihe forward end of said main frame forms a support for said boom, and a pivotal connection is provided between said boom and the forward end of said main frame to permit upward swinging movement of said boom and scoop for discharging material from said scoop downwardly along said boom'onto the conveyor and to permit swinging movement to one side or the other of the track for picking up material from either side of the track.

The scoop I2 and boom l3 are swung from side to side or elevated to a discharge position by means of a pair of flexible chains l5, l5 wound on winding drums l6, l6, and independently driven from a suitable motor on the truck ID, in a manner which is not herein shown or described direction changing roller 22 mounted at the for- -rom said direction ward end of the machine. changing roller 22, said belt is movable upwardly along the bottom plate 2|, to the rear of the machine, ior moving material upwardly along the conveyor frame and discharging it into suitable receptacles; such as, mine cars or the like. The drive to saidco-nveyer is not herein shown or described since it is no part of my present invention.

With reference now in particular to the novel features of my invention and the means at the receiving end of the conveyor forming a support for the belt, for decreasing the shocks imparted to the belt-upon the discharge of large pieces of rock thereon from the scoop [2, a resilient member or plate 23 is mounted beneath the belt at the receiving end thereof and, as herein shown, forms an extension of and is pivotally connected to the forward end of the bottom plate 2| by means of a hinge member 24. Said plate is herein shown as extending forwardly from said hinge member to a point adjacent the roller 22. Said plate is provided with a depending forward end 25 which provides a smooth forward surface at the forward end of said plate, to prevent injury to the belt, and is also provided with outer depending sides 26, 26 extending rearwardly from said depending forward end'and having the lower sides thereof inclined in an upward direction towards said plate. Said depending end is also adapted to engage a cross supporting member 21, extending across the conveyer frame and mountedbetween the sides 20, thereof, and serve as a stop Said springs also encircle retaining lugs 34 de pending from the underside of said plate and retaining lugs 35, 35 projecting upwardly from the cross supporting member 21. Thus, when a heavy piece of rock is discharged from the scoop l2 along the boom l3 onto the belt l9, the plate 23 supporting the receiving end of said "belt will give against the compression springs 3|, 3|; as

illustrated in Figure 2, and lessen the shock to the belt and thus decrease the liability of injury thereto.

With reference now in particular to the modi fled form of my invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, in this form of the invention, a plate 36 having a depending forward end 31 is hinged to the forward end of the bottom plate 2! of the conveyer on a hinge member 38. A transversely extending angle iron 43 having one depending leg is herein shown as being secured to the bottom of the plate 23 on its other leg. A cross supporting member 44 extends transversely across the frame for the conveyer and is secured to opposite sides of the frame, just rearwardly of the roller 22. Said cross member has an angle iron 45 secured theretopn one of it legs, the other leg of which angle iron projects upwardly from said cross member in a plane parallel to the plane of the depending leg of the angle 43. A resilient member 41, made from a suitable re silient material, such as rubber, extends along and is bonded to the forward side of the depending leg of the angle iron 46in a suitable manner, and the opposite side of said member is bonded to the rear side of the upwardly extending leg of the angle iron 45. Said resilient member is so arranged that its upper and lower sides are at parallel angles, inclined with respect to V the plane of movement of the plate 36, so that a load on the plate 36 will tend to shear the rubber member H, which will yield, and upon relief of the loaded condition of the belt, said member will regain its natural shape and return the plate 36 to a normal position, as shown in Figure 5.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be. embodied, it will be understood that the construction the-reof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be member forming a support along which the belt moves at the receiving end of the conveyer, and yieldable means engaging said hinged member and forming a support for the forward end tl'1ere'of, permitting yieldable movement of said member about its axis of connection to said bottom plate upon the discharge of a heavy load onto said belt. 7

2. In a conveyer of the type adapted to' carry and have heavy rock discharged directly thereon, an endless conveyer belt, a frame along which said belt moves including a bottom plate forming a support for the underside of the upper run of said belt, and means to lessen the shock to said belt upon the dropping of heavy material thereon including a member transversely hinged to the forward end of said bottom plate and forming a continuation thereof, said member forming a support along which the belt moves at the receiving end of the conveyer, and a compression spring having, supporting engagement with the forward end of said member and permitting yieldable movement thereof in a downward direction upon the discharge of a heavy load onto said belt. p 1

3. In a conveyer of the type adapted to carry and have heavy'rock discharged directly thereon, an endless conveyer belt, a frame along which said belt moves including a bottom'plate forming a support for the underside of the upper run of said belt, and means to lessen the shock to said belt upon the dropping of heavy material thereon including a member transversely hinged to the forward end of said bottom plate and forming a continuation thereof, said member forming a supp rt along which the beit moves at the receiving end of the conveyer, a transversely extending rigid member disposed beneath the forward end of saidhinged member, and a rubber member connected between said rigid member and the forward end of said hinged member, to form a yieldable support therefor.

ANTHONY R. BIEDESS. V 

